Head to head
The short answer
Pick Ricketts Glen if waterfalls are the whole point. Pennsylvania's Falls Trail strings 21 named falls, including the 94-foot Ganoga Falls, onto a single demanding loop with no equal in the region for sheer waterfall density. The exception is the traveler who wants iconic rock formations, caves, and easier walking the family can share: that person should choose Hocking Hills, Ohio's most popular park, where Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, and the recess caves headline shorter, gentler trails.
Aperture Authority rules check
If photos are part of the trip, permit and drone rules can change the better pick. Aperture Authority keeps the sourced, dated rules library for the locations below.
Pennsylvania rule check for Ricketts Glen State Park.
No statewide photo permit; the PA Film Office coordinates state property access, DCNR agreements cover state parks and forests, and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh run their own permits.
Checked 2026-07-01
Full photography rulesOhio rule check for Hocking Hills State Park.
Ohio permitting is city by city; the state film office is an incentives and referral shop, and ODNR handles state park shoots through its special activity permit.
Checked 2026-07-01
Full photography rules| Ricketts Glen State Park | Hocking Hills State Park | |
|---|---|---|
| Best time | Late April to October for the open Falls Trail, with fall color as the standout | April to October, with fall color and summer weekends as the busiest windows |
| Entrance fee | No entrance fee; camping and cabins are paid | Ohio state parks have no general day-use entrance fee, but camping and lodging fees apply |
| Size | Not reported | Not reported |
| Visitors | Not reported | Not reported |
| Nearest airport | See park page | See park page |
| Decision | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most waterfalls | Ricketts Glen State Park | The Falls Trail links 21 named falls in one loop, unmatched for density. |
| Most iconic rock features | Hocking Hills State Park | Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, and the recess caves are the headline sights. |
| Best for families | Hocking Hills State Park | Shorter, gentler trails make it easier for mixed-ability groups. |
| Toughest hike | Ricketts Glen State Park | The full Falls Trail loop is long, steep, and slick near the water. |
| Best lodging and amenities | Hocking Hills State Park | A lodge, cabins, and a developed visitor scene support easy overnights. |
| Fewer crowds | Ricketts Glen State Park | It draws fewer visitors than Ohio's most popular state park. |
| Best fall color | Either | Both peak in October, when the gorges and falls frame the foliage. |
These parks are in different states, with Ricketts Glen in Pennsylvania and Hocking Hills in Ohio, roughly five hours apart, so most people pick one rather than combining them. Both shine in October for fall color. Ricketts Glen's Falls Trail gets dangerously icy in winter and may require traction or close, so check conditions.
Whichever park wins for you, here is the gear keyed to these conditions, the tools to size your trip, and related guides.
Planning either trip? Each park guide has when-to-go, what-to-pack, and camping reservation details. Browse the full national parks index.